I am moving up from a 36&quot; belt to a 48&quot; hydro, and have the following choices here locally:<br>Scag - good dealer, cost $4900<br>Exmark - good dealer, cost $4550<br>Lesco - ok dealer, cost $3500 (special promo)<br>Snapper - best dealer in area, cost $4700<p>All machines have 17hp Kaw. engine, except snapper it has 14hp Kaw. Is Lesco a quality machine. There is obviously a big price break if I take advantage of their special?

sunrise

01-27-2000, 02:46 PM

I have 12 crews that use skags<br>they are good but my dealer prices have gone thru the roof and I am switching to ex-marks riders and walk behinds<br>also get a 52 in gives a better cut

geogunn

01-27-2000, 02:51 PM

mike--throw out the snapper. pay more money for less horsepower even though the dealer is prefered? I wouldn't.<p>for the money you quote the lesco is probably a fixed deck with a 17 kawi single. what about the others? are they 17 kawi singles or 17 b&s or kholer doubles? are the skagg and exmark floating decks? are you comparing apples to apples? a thousand to fourteen hundred bucks for a comparable apple is alot of money!<p>I run a lesco 48 belt and it's a great machine. it's been dependable and tough as nails. for the difference in price you are talking about there is no way you could convince me that the skagg or exmark is worth the difference. I know where I'm going tomorrow!<p>GEO

Mowman

01-27-2000, 04:26 PM

Mike spend the extra money on the Exmark and have the mulch kit installed and your business will grow from the finished look of the lawns you cut. Extra investment in the begining is worth it. Trust me. If you buy a mower to save a few hundred and are not happy now you have to spend a few thousand to correct the problem. Well good luck in your purchase. Mowman

Dingo

01-27-2000, 04:42 PM

Forget the snapper. where ever you are getting it from you are getting jacked. I lookED at it for a little while then easily forgot about it. I can get the same one for 3,999

lawrence stone

01-27-2000, 06:30 PM

MikeC<p>Take a look at the used toro hydro with<br>a 20hp kohler with a 52&quot; deck at turfquip.com.<p>Why spend over twice as for an inferior machine?<p>Compare the torque specs on a 20hp V twin kohler vs. a 17hp one lung Kawa.

Lazer

01-27-2000, 07:11 PM

Exmark inferior machine to Toro? <p>Please.

jsteveharris

01-27-2000, 07:12 PM

I have a scag ultimate 48 hydro w/ 17hp kawa<br>It has a floating deck, mulch kit, xlarge grass gobbler, and a single wheel velke, all for 5800.00 tax and all. love the mower and think it was a pretty good deal

NewellMowingCo

01-27-2000, 08:46 PM

I'm going to go against the flow here and recommend the Snapper Hydro. I have a 36&quot; Hydro that is still going strong after two years. In my city, the only lawn mower dealer sells Snapper exclusively so I don't have much experience with any other brand. I am happy with my Snapper though. <br>I did run a 32&quot; Ransomes a few years ago. It did a great job, too.<br>Justin

Retro67

01-27-2000, 09:50 PM

MikeC<p>I have a price of $3779 for a 48&quot; Scag Hydro w/ 14 hp Kawi. The dealer is a full-line dealer. I doubt they charge $1100 more for the 17 hp Kawi. <p>John

Lazer

01-27-2000, 10:21 PM

Retro,<br>Doesn't Scag make a new floating deck model? The 17 Kawi and the floating deck (along w/ other new features on that model?) might explain the price difference.

Charles

01-27-2000, 10:36 PM

I would go with the Exmark Lazer. Worth every penny. Fast height adjustment. Doesn't scalp. Cuts at a good speed. Solid construction. Comfortable seat. Compact. Turns on a dime.

Lazer

01-27-2000, 10:49 PM

Charles,<br>Thank-you for the words of wisdom.

Retro67

01-27-2000, 10:54 PM

I have prices in front of me that are lower than those listed by a significant amount.Email retrolawn@interlink-bbs.com for details. It may take a couple of days sometimes to get a response, since I travel often. Also, I edited this post before to say that was not the Ultimate jsteveharris was correct, Skag doesn't make the 14 48&quot; in the ultimate. I have a fixed deck and a floating deck mower. I prefer the fixed deck Dual hydro Ferris. <p>John<p>

Keith

01-28-2000, 12:08 AM

There's an idea for a new forum. Everyone could contribute prices that they get on new equipment so future buyers have some idea of the price they should be able to get.

geogunn

01-28-2000, 09:38 AM

mowman--as I read your post here do I understand you to say that the only way to get a professional cut is with an exmark? that's a pretty good knock at all the other good machines out there.<p>GEO

jsteveharris

01-28-2000, 12:34 PM

retro, scag does not make a ultimate 48&quot; with a 14 kawa. They make a 36&quot; with a 15hp kohler and the 48&quot; comes with the 17hp Kawa.<br>I know this because I own one and looked at all the options for the scags when I bought this one. So, therefore your dealer may have a inferior machine.<p>----------<br>Steve Harris<br>From The Ground Up Landscaping

jsteveharris

01-28-2000, 12:39 PM

The scag also has a easily adjustable height,<br>independent hydro control adjustments, greasable blade assemblies, and a great warranty

Lazer

01-28-2000, 03:24 PM

There's no question this years Scag now has most all the same features of an Exmark. It's gotta be a nice machine.

geogunn

01-29-2000, 10:31 AM

mikec--if you cn get the lesco for $3500, buy it! I priced the same machine yesterday for $3800. for $3500, it'd be on the trailer right now, but no deal. I can wait.<p>good luck<p>GEO

Retro67

01-29-2000, 11:14 AM

Mikec-<p>That is a heck of a price on that Lesco. It is only a few hundred more than the prices I have for 14 hp hydro walkbehinds by Ferris. The 17 hp is available, I just don't know how much more it would cost. Probably about the same as they are selling that Lesco, if not slightly higher. I do know my Ferris has been extremely dependable and has a nice finish cut. No experience with Lesco, just have heard a lot of negative about them along with a little positive.<p>John